Backpacking Building Blocks (B3) Course

• Required “Building Blocks Basics” classes:  2 evening indoor sessions on March 18 and 25, and a  demonstration day on Saturday March 28, with all the basics plus ideas to go beyond.  WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR THE COURSE, PLEASE ALSO REGISTER FOR EACH OF THESE SESSIONS.  If you can't attend one of these sessions, email Cheryl Talbert at cascadehiker@earthlink.net to work out how to make up the class.

• Optional in-depth seminars through the spring and early summer, including lightweight gear, lightweight food planning and preparation, "Staying Found"on-trail navigation and Trail Emergency Preparedness.   All of these seminars are offered for free for B3 students and qualifying activity leaders BUT YOU MUST REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE SESSIONS IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE.  SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY - registration opens January 17.  B3 students or backpack leaders can register in the free session listed as "B3 Students and Leaders Only".  (If you are not a B3 student or qualifying activity leader, you may still enroll in one of the sessions listed for 'General Membership'  for a small fee beginning two weeks before the class date as space permits.)  Tentative dates are as follows, with locations (on the eastside or in Seattle) to be announced later:
•     ** Lightweight Gear (Lawrence Landauer):  April 1 and April 8  
•     ** Lightweight BP Food Planning and Prep (Cheryl Talbert):  May 20 and June 3
•     ** Trail Emergency Preparedness/First Aid (Barbara Folmer):   April 15 and 27
•     ** "Staying Found" On-Trail Navigation (Dave Coate):  April 12 and May 9

• A series of 2-5 day backpacking trips will be offered through the summer as part of the program, progressing in length and strenuousness, to help you get in shape, to expand your multi-day backpacking skills, and to introduce you to amazing remote backcountry with experienced leaders and trail companions you will come to know and trust.  

The $80 course fee gets you the required Building Blocks Basics classes, free entry into the optional seminars (other members may attend for $25 per class as space permits), and advance notice of all the B3 backpack trips through the summer.  Backpack trips sponsored through the B3 course include extra emphasis on coaching and demonstration of gear and trail/camp skills.

To graduate, students must complete the Basics classes and 3 backpack trips of which one is two nights or more.  B3 backpacks as well as other club backpack trips and even qualifying private trips can count toward your graduation.  Trips typically post on the Backpack Activity listing 6 weeks or more in advance, so bookmark this page and check it often!

To advance the goal of maintaining and growing our backpacking community in the club and spreading the skills and joy of backpacking as broadly as possible, all B3 backpacks are open to any Mountaineers member over 18 who meets the qualifications for the trip.  

We hope you will join us!!  If you love to backpack and have a passion for teaching, consider joining us as a backpack leader.  Contact cascadehiker@earthlink.net and register for the leaders' orientation.